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With just over a week to the next Perth Upmarket one would expect that one would be rather busy and focussed in the preparations. There is a pile of fabric on the cutting table, boxes full of ideas and inspirations, hanging racks with patterns and cut-out pieces ready to be stitched together, chalkboards with lists in case I lose my way in the midst of it all. But one can be TOO efficient ... and so this morning, because I happened to be up before the sun and the alarm and its endless snoozy variations I realised I had plenty of time to PLAY!

Who knows where an idea comes from or what sparks it off. I am standing at the table, determined to ignore the to-do list for the time being when the idea to make some cloth beads arises. Plenty of scraps, a knitting needle, red silk thread and there you have it.

Every now and then I find myself returning to (and embracing) my art therapy roots, which is to say that I get stuck into spontaneous image making using whatever media is on hand. It's usually a response to an urge to do something without any planning, conscious thought or (and especially) purpose. Often it occurs while in the midst of doing something very serious, such as drafting a pattern for a garment, and although I know it's not good practice, I can't help but slide the serious work down to the end of the table, grab a piece of paper, ink, brush and off I go, trying not to spatter the ink too far.

JUDGE

Since the images are not planned, they manage to escape the process of judgement that might ordinarily occur should I have decided "today I want to paint ... what shall it be?", which would typically result in nothing because I would have analysed, criticised and finalised the whole process before even beginn…